Holy Diver

That looks scary.  It looked even scarier when he was just a tiny and screaming month old getting an EKG.  Sam had a little health concern when he was born.  Sometimes they would hear a heart murmur, sometimes they wouldn't.  We went to get it checked out shortly after he was born and they found a tiny hole in his heart.  They assured us that he would be fine and the hole would likely close up in a couple months.  The only thing this tiny hole meant, if it didn't close, was that Sam wouldn't be allowed to do any deep sea diving.  You know, 'cause that's so common a thing to want to do.

Well, today was his follow up EKG and heart ultrasound.  The hole is closed!  He still has what they call an "innocent heart murmur", but it shouldn't have any effect on what he can and can't do in his life.  

I still won't let him go deep sea diving.  'Cause I'm a mom and I worry and he will always be my squishy.

Squeeeee Headsplode!

Batman needed a paci.

Every day should be a superhero outfit kind of a day.

And Now For Something Completely Different

Saturday night the husband and I went to a beard competition.  Yes, a beard competition.  Meaning lots of people standing around in a bar watching the beards of others be judged for the purpose of community respect and a wee trophy.  (Plus all the money made that night went to charity.)  

Above is our friend Mike, who entered the full beard category.  Yes, category.  This is taken so seriously that there are categories to compete in.  The most amazing of which was the women's fake beard.  Fake.  Fake beard.  Awesome.

Jess, demonstrating the Awesome.

Some lady I don't know, showing the Awesome.

Another lady I don't know, living the Awesome.

It was a fun night full of fun people and fun beard jokes.  Plus my first actual drink at a bar in I think over 2 years.  So much fun that I counted this as a date night. 

Baby at sitter - check

Husband & wife alone in car - check

Dinner - check

Fun - check

Ice cream before picking up baby - check

Yup, it was a date night!

Saturday Selfies

My craftiest and bestest of friends, Audrey, has created a photo challenge.  Blog challenges are something I have never taken part in before.  I just never felt crafty, creative, talented, or interesting enough to think that others would care what I did for said challenge.  But this time I decided to throw my hat in the ring because it was something simple, yet incredibly challenging to me personally.

A self portrait.

I have never been a fan of being in front of the camera.  I have always hated photos of myself, regardless of my hotness level at the time.  I have tons of vacation photos of Morgan having a great time, very few of me.  Tons of baby snuggles with Daddy, relatively few of me.  You get the idea.  Cameras pointed at me make me nervous.

I have a sneaking suspicion that this photo challenge may actually involve several weeks of different photo types, styles, and whatnots.  This weeks assignment is just a simple introduction photo.  And since it doesn't have to be a photo that involves all of yourself, I have chosen to break myself in gently and focus on what I feel is my best feature.  My eyes.  I have always loved my eyes.  Which, now that I look at them in such detail, I have to admit might be hazel.  (but I will deny it to my mother till my dying breath!)

I see you!  

(and no, I'm not wearing any make up)

(OMG, I am so self conscious)

And there it is!  I have joined in!  I'm trying something newish!  Visit Audrey and see what all the fuss is about.  She's like awesome and stuff and has big boobs.  Plus you'll find a list of others doing the Saturday Selfies challenge.

Peek a Boo

Every night this week Morgan has been at the Freemason lodge learning all those super secret (yawn) super fabulous things he has to learn.  Every night.  Which means I feel like I've been running a baby care marathon all week.  And I think next week he's doing the same thing.  Peek a Boo Daddy, who comes home to eat and then is gone again till just about bedtime.  

Really, I only think I'm this worn down because Sam hasn't been sleeping well at all.  I think he's been having bad dreams.  Not so bad that I have to cuddle him in the middle of the night.  Just bad enough that he gives one good wail or loud whimper while his eyes are still closed and then he's out again.  Sometimes he needs a paci shoved into his mouth, but not often.  But it happens every hour and a half.  Almost like clock work.  Peek a Boo, no sleep for you.

At least yesterday I got to visit a friend for half a day.  Spend some quality time with her cute, pregnant butt.  See her townhouse which has JUST been finished and is now ready for her to move in.  Drop off some unused baby loot that I hope will come in handy in a couple months when her little boy (we think) arrives.  And have a conversation or 5 that does not start with "Baa baa boo goo DAAA!"

And today I plan on playing with this little twerp as much as possible so he'll go to sleep easily at the end of the day.  Tonight Morgan is going to a Springsteen concert when he gets off work.  Which means he won't be home at all till 1 or 2am.  Another long day of solo parenting.  Peek a Boo, indeed.  Wear your adorable little ass out.

A Week of Changes

Sometimes it feels like time kicks into overdrive and baby learns a ton of new things in a snap.  This past week was one of those weeks.

Everything can be beaten, and so everything shall be beaten.  Beaten without mercy by one Mr. Baby.

We were curious how he would react to being flipped upside down.  Turns out he LOVES it.  That's one rough and tumble little monster.

Seeing how Sam outgrew the weight limit for the bassinet of the Pack n Play at least a month ago, we did the right thing and lowered it to the floor.  He looks so far away.  He looks like a big boy.  And now that he's surrounded by all that mesh I can't hide from him anymore.

It took him all of 20 minutes to master using a sippy cup.  When it comes to food/drink, baby don't F around.

Today we had a busy day of library in the morning and Torticollis PT in the afternoon.  PT lady was extremely pleased with the progress we have made on his head tilt and core strength.  In fact he's showing a few 8 month skills developing that really shocked her.  I'm proud of Pud that he has made such great progress.  The PT again stated that she doubts we will need her help past a few more visits.  That's great, but I know I'll miss her pointing out the little things I take for granted and her telling me what that movement will lead to and so on.  It's fascinating to me.  I want to know more.

Greasy Greasy Goo Goo, please don't grow too fast.  Otherwise Mommy will have to force Daddy to knock her up again.

Vacation!

Okay, I guess I should have left off that exclamation point cause it was the husband's vacation, not mine.  But nonetheless he was off work for a week and therefore around a bit more.  Which is nice.

Vacation started with taking daddy with us to Babies with Books at the library.  He enjoyed it and now understands what I'm talking about when I tell him how much fun Sam has there.  Bonus points cause Morgan had the Goodbye Song stuck in his head for a couple days!  Now he knows my pain.

Then he left for 3 days to go to the beach with his friends.  Now, I know what you're thinking.  "He did what?  And left you and the baby at home?  Do you get to have NO fun?"  Well, sort of.  But this is the traditional beach trip the boys have been taking since they graduated high school together.  I'm not one to stand in the way of tradition.  Besides, the trade off (of sorts) was that I got to sleep in just about every day that he was home on his vacation.  Sleep is my vacation.

We're also kicking around the idea of maybe going somewhere together come November or December.  Being an ex-retail slave, the idea of taking a vacation during that black out time excites me to no end!  So much so that last night I had a depressing dream about getting called back to work at the mall.  Working retail sucks during the holidays.

"Don't know what you talkin bout, Momma.  I ready for da beach!"

Anywho - moving on.  While Morgan was gone Sam and I held down the fort and spent a day visiting Gg-ma.  Which is always a good time.  Plus she took us/me out to lunch.  Score.

He likes visiting Gg-ma too.  Her couch is extra squishy and the clock makes noise.

Saturday was spent doing domestic things and getting Morgan unpacked from his trip.  Shopping (killer Kohl's sale), cleaning, and a lot of sleeping for me.  Sunday was a lazy day.  Meaning no one got out of their pajamas.

Yesterday we went to a friends house for a BBQ.  So. Much. Fun.  Tons of kids running around doing kid things, lots of food, dogs, chickens, and adult conversation.  Just what I needed.  

And thus ended the husband vacation.  Not a lot happened.  But that's okay.  I have this one to keep me entertained.  Not to mention the outfit envy.  Seriously, I want this exact outfit in my size.  It looks so comfy and colorful fun.  He's fun.

Shape sorting toy.

You're doing it wrong.